Lajas.- Cubans throughout all the land and especially in his native town of
Lajas, Cienfuegos province honored Benny Moré, "The Barbarian of Rhythm," on
his birthday, Feb. 19.

Benny died in Havana at the height of his artistic career when he was 43. He
had traveled a long road as a bootblack, stevedore, "wagoneer," boxer,
tireless wayfarer, bohemian, troubadour and, according to many, Cuba's
greatest singer of the Cuban "son" (type of song).

By a stroke of luck he stopped journeying with his pockets inside out. He
reached the people, who remember him with affection not only in Lajas and
Cuba but many other parts of the world. There was a walk around this town to
his grave. The people sang his songs as always with much of the feeling and
emotion with which he stamped them.

One of his most famous songs was about a town, "Santa Isabel de las Lajas,
querida" (Beloved Saint Isabel of Lajas). It rounded the globe with its
rhythm and taste as did "Vida" (My Love). They had that special stamp of his
voice that made him one of Cuba's most famous and well-known singers. In
truth, everyone adored Benny and still adore him.